KOLLER VIEW 01/26

02 pre view. 14 Franz Kafka did not live to witness the success of his works, nor was he awarded a literary prize during his lifetime. In 1915, howev- er, Carl Sternheim, recipient of the Fontane Prize, publicly placed his prize money at the disposal of the talented writer from Prague, thereby bringing him at least a measure of recognition. A previous- ly unknown letter of thanks from Kafka to Sternheim will be offered in our auction. In it, the shy author adopts a courteous and slightly self-effacing tone: ‘That this decision should come from you in par- ticular honours me greatly; it is more important to me than you can imagine.’ Less modestly, Albert Einstein wrote in 1936 to congratulate his el- dest son Hans Albert on completing his doctorate in Zurich: ‘I am enormously pleased that your work has now been finished. I truly pity the printer who has to read your scribblings.’ Yet Einstein was also generous: ‘Whatever the Institute does not cover in printing costs, I shall pay. I have enough money for it in Zurich, and it could not be better spent.’ The letters and documents in our catalogue repeatedly demonstrate how dependent talent is upon financial support – whether to survive or to flourish. By contrast, an album from the estate of Napoleon’s stepdaughter and sister-in-law Hortense de Beauharnais reflects a more tranquil life in exile, residing in her own château at Arenenberg on Lake Constance, where she devoted herself to the arts. The sale includes many further autographs and books from a wide range of fields. In this anniversary year of Rilke’s death, the Prague- born poet must not be absent. In 1907, he dedicated and presented a handwritten manuscript of his famous poem ‘Der Panther’ to an unknown recipient. At times, literature itself becomes currency. On the value of words Preview of the Books &Autographs auction on 25March 2026 1 2 1 Franz Kafka (1883–1924). Signed autograph letter. Prague, 20 October 1915. 8°. Estimate: CHF 30 000/40 000 2 Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926). Der Panther. Autograph manuscript of the poem. With dedication leaf, dated 1907. Estimate: CHF 14 000/20 000 For further information Books & Autographs Dr. Andreas Terwey terwey@kollerauctions.com Online Catalogues www.kollerauctions.com 3 Albert Einstein (1879–1955). Autograph letter to his son Hans Albert Einstein. Estimate: CHF 5 000/8 000 4 Hortense de Beauharnais (1783–1837). Album from her possession with 69 watercolours and brush drawings. Estimate: CHF 14 000/18 000 4 3